President Obama Echoes Theme of Documentary on Israeli-Palestinian Nonviolent Movement Being Launched on College Campuses

Oklahoma City, OK—During his speech at the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals on September 22, President Obama echoed the theme of the recently launched documentary Little Town of Bethlehem. Obama urged both sides to commit fully and sincerely to the peace process. If an agreement is not reached he warned, “Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors. . . . This Holy Land will remain a symbol of our differences instead of our common humanity.” Jim Hanon decided to direct Little Town of Bethlehem in order to illustrate this very reality. “There are countless films about the injustices from the perspectives of either side,” he explained. “We asked ourselves, ‘If there is something in the conflict that points to greater humanity, what is it?’ This film is not about who is right or wrong, but rather about seeking the humanity in both sides.” The film traces the lives of three men, on opposite sides of the conflict, who at great risk have joined hands in the struggle for a nonviolent solution to the crisis between Israelis and Palestinians. The film is being screened on more than 150 campuses in a nationwide launch that began on September 21. EthnoGraphic Media, which produced the film, expects around 300 screenings before the end of the year. Little Town of Bethlehem was produced by EthnoGraphic Media (EGM), an educational non-profit organization exploring the critical issues of our time.For more information visit www.littletownofbethlehem.org.

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